The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-04-06

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and regretted the means employed by
the enemies of the Saints to combat the
truth. He felt repaid for his labors and
what he had undergone; his experience
had been of incalcuable value to him.
and he would like to see young men
sent out with the gospel message and
gain knowledge similar to which The was
possessed of in regard to the gospel and
its truths.
Bishop o. F. WHITNEY was unexpect-
eddy called, but he would endeavor to
fill the call by the aid and inspiration of
the Spirit of God. He had 8 similar
testimony to bear as his brethren who
had preceded him. He was not ashamed
of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He con-
sidered it as a great honor to go horth
with the message of life and salvation,
and administer in spiritual things.
There was no higher honor. It was
said by one of old 81 had rather be a
doorkeeper in the house of my God,
than to dwell in the tents of wicked
ness" The speaker echoed the senti-
ment quoted.
The Saints, as a people. continued the
bishop, had reason to be proud that the
living priesthood of Almighty God was
in their midst. In this day, God had
restored the everlasting gospel and sent
men to act in His name and by His
authority for the salvation of the human
race. AS usual, they were scoffed at
and the Saints we're accused of being
priest-ridden and of doing the bidding
of their masters-"the Mormon heir
archy." This was one of the charges
brought against them by their enemies,
| and one of the reasons why their syS-
| TEN should be broken up.
There were many scattered through
the nations of the world who revoIted
at the thought of being obedient to any
power or law, and the embers of this
! lawless element existed in the form of
Nlhllism, Socialism, and so on.
| But there was such thing as rightful
authority, which it was not serfdom to
obey,
When Jesus Christ, the Son of God
presented himself to John, for baptism,
He set the example of obedience to right
full authority, John was so struck with
the ipcongruity, as he considered it, of
the aier humbling himself to the
lesser-of the one mightier than him
self, whom he had announced as lone
mightier than 1, the lachet of whose
shoes 1 am not worthy to stoop down
and unloose." 81 have need to be bap-
tized of thee" and Jesus replied: "Suf-
fer it to be so, for thus it becometh US to
fulfil all righteousness" The secret
was that John had the priesthood, and
Jesus could no more ignore Johns au-
thority than John could deny that Jesus
was the Savior of the world. 1t was the
authority Jesus recognized.
This was also the secret of the respect,
love and obedience this people observed
in their connection with what is called
10 hal
the priesthood were the servants of God,
and 1t was not through fear of man OF
from motives of selfishness, that they
obeyed, honored and Tevered them.
God, Bishop Whitley said, has sent
forth prophets, apostles and elders. and
whatever they did would be as binding
as though He himself was present oper-
ating. 1t was serious thing, he said,
to oppose the work of God, and men
would be called upon to account for their
actions in this regard, and they who had
treated His servants we'll would be re-
warded, and they who had prosecuted
them would be called to answer for what
they had done. Bishop Whitney cited
the passage from the new Testament
which depicted the judgment promised
by the Savior:
"Inasmuch as We have done it unto
IL,
have done it unto me. Depart from me,
We cursed, into everlasting fire prepared
for the devil and his angels
And again, And whosoever shall give
to drink unto one of these little ones
cup of cold water only, in the name of
a disciple, verify [ say unto you, he
shall in no wise lose his reward"
This was considered presumptuous, |
but is it not written in theword of God? |
Those who had prosecuted the Latter |
day Saints would similarly have to !
answer for their deeds.
Truth springs out of the earth right /
eousness looks down from heaven. |
Joseph Smith sprang out of the earth, !
hguratlVely speaking, and he was one of !
the noblest spirits that ever walked the !
earth; hidden like a diamond in the I
dust, he was overlooked by the high and !
mighty of the world, and was Knocked .
and scoffed at because of his lowly |
origin. He fell as martyrs have ever |
fallen, sealing his testimony with his !
blood. His name has risen like the !
rising sun, and increased in brilliance !
with the lapse of years. God did not !
choose the great and mighty, as His
ways were not the ways of man.
The speaker had been asked: do /
you believe that God in choosing a
prophet would pass by such great men
as Henry Ward Beecher, Talmage,
Spurgeon and others, and pick out
boy like Joseph Smith," Yes" he had
answered; "for Gods ways are not as
mems ways" By the world, a man
like Henry Ward Beecher, whom the
speaker admired as a great man, might
have been readily received as
prophet or leader, and consequently
the eyes of the world we're directed to
such as him; 1t had even been sug-
gested that it would have been wise for
the Mormons to convert such a man,
who would draw with him large con.
gregation into the church. That was
not the purpose of the Almighty. Every
soul must be converted for itself,
The taking of Joseph Smith, farm
er's boy; Brigham Young, glazier and
painter; Heber G. Kim6all, potter.
was according to the design of God. and
they had performed their parts. having
been predestined and ordained, as was
Jeremiah, who was ordained before mis-
birth to be prophet unto the nations.
He acknowledged that he was but
child Uhn oOr1l6